Olympic star Luvo Manyonga slapped with four-year ban
The SA record holder was criticised for not making himself available to the disciplinary tribunal which addressed his case.
Luvo Manyonga will not be able to compete again until December 2024. Picture: Gallo Images
Long jumper Luvo Manyonga’s roller-coaster career looks to have fizzled to a disappointing close, with the elite star receiving another ban from competition.
“The disciplinary tribunal has banned South African long jumper Luvo Manyonga for four years from 23 December 2020 for whereabouts failures,” independent anti-doping body the Athletics Integrity Unit confirmed in a statement on Friday.
Manyonga was found to have missed one doping test and had also failed to communicate his whereabouts with anti-doping officials on two occasions within a 12-month period.
The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned South African long jumper Luvo Manyonga for four years from 23 December 2020 for whereabouts failures, his second violation of the @WorldAthletics Anti-Doping Rules.
????️ ⬇️https://t.co/cBkQOqSHT4#AIUNews pic.twitter.com/BW7CyEn9lM— Athletics Integrity Unit (@aiu_athletics) June 18, 2021
Having already served a suspension earlier in his career, Manyonga was slapped with a four-year ban as it was his second offence.
He was also criticised for not making himself available to the disciplinary tribunal which addressed his case.
“The athlete has not in fact cooperated with this hearing process and has declined several opportunities to attend the hearing,” arbitrator William Norris wrote in the disciplinary report.
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Manyonga was previously banned for 18 months in 2012 after testing positive for methamphetamine.
Despite fighting a recreational drug addiction throughout his elite career, the talented athlete had managed to secure the silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio before winning gold at the 2017 World Championships in London.
The 30-year-old national record holder, who has not competed since September 2019, has not qualified for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Manyonga in action for South Africa at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. Picture: Gallo Images
And while he can appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, his ban will keep him from competing at the 2024 Games in Paris, as well as the 2022 and 2023 editions of the World Championships.
He will be eligible to compete again in December 2024.
